Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, has flown out of the country to rest.

This was confirmed by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, in a statement on Wednesday.

Rahman said Tinubu departed Lagos on Tuesday night for Paris to rest and prepare for lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia and Ramadan fasting that would commence on Thursday.

The spokesperson said the president-elect would also use the opportunity, while he is out of the country, to plan his transition programme.

“The president-elect decided to take a break after the hectic campaign and election season to rest in Paris and London, preparatory to going to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (lesser hajj) and the Ramadan Fasting that begins Thursday,” Rahman said.

“While away, the president-elect will also use the opportunity to plan his transition programme.

“He is expected back in the country soon.

“We enjoin the media to stop publishing rumours and unsubstantiated claims and to always seek clarifications from our office.”

The development will lay to rest the speculation as to the whereabouts of the president-elect.

Tinubu has not made any public appearances for some days, fuelling speculations that he might be out of the country.